The Music, Makes and Musings of Irish folk singer/songwriter Fil Campbell on the road and at home

Monday, 31 October 2016

Celtic New Year

Beautiful journey through Co. Armagh

Such an unexpected pleasure having the extra hour in bed with the time change this weekend - I can never remember whether we gain or lose an hour when the clocks fall back, so it was nice to find we'd gained it.

Coming in to Ederney

This has been the most beautiful Autumn I can remember for a long time - the colours are just fabulous - last time I saw a prolonged colour like this was in New England. But we've had dry crisp gorgeous weather and the leaves are hanging on and glowing.

On my journey west from Co. Down to Co. Fermanagh and back again the views just kept getting better and better.

Sunset over Lough Erne

Well it's Celtic New Year again.I wrote about the traditions of Samhain here but for this Halloween I thought I'd share this lovely Van Morrison song with you. People either love or hate Van - I think he's a great creative force out of Belfast and always has a song for every occasion.

"If I don't see you through the week, I'll see you through the window" - a great local saying. It's a bit like "pick your window, you're leaving!"

Hi Fil..The trees are beautiful.. That's wonderful that you've enjoyed a pretty fall. Ours here in the AZ mountains has also been one to remember. I didn't know about your Celtic New Year. It's very interesting that Halloween has it's roots in your celebration. I enjoyed the song very much. Van Morrison is one of my favorite singers. What an amazing musician and song writer. Soulful and artistic. Neither did I know that he was born Irish.. Thank you for the lovely post and Best wishes for the Celtic New Year!

And the same to you Tamara - yes, Van still lives here - his band are nearly all local musicians and he has done many albums with some of the great traditional bands, like the Chieftains. Samhain is probably the holiest of ancient times - storytelling is the great tradition of this time of year which is happily being restored nowadays. Have a wonderful Halloween

Loved the saying... You always have so good words, dear Fil! It touched me, the saying... if I don't see you through the week, I'll see you through the window... for me it was like saying "you're gone", or "you are out, but I will see through another part of me - window, heart or mind..." So lovely. Van Morrison is great, I am loving the song, I am listening to it as I write the comment! And your journey seemed to be amazing... once when I was going to Bushmills I read on the road "Antrim Coast, a place of exceptional beauty" and I never forgot these words... so I give these words to the pictures you have just shown... places of exceptional beauty... And happy Celtic new year! Today I heard that this is the day when we can make three wishes, with all our soul. I am going to do so :) Hope you have a very nice week, dear Fil!DenisesPlanet.com

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About Me

Hi and welcome to my wee corner of the world.
I'm Fil and I'm a singer, occasional songwriter, voice coach, choir director and broadcaster.
On this blog I share some singing related tips; songs transposed for women to sing; info about old singers and songs; stories from my tours and basically anything that interests me as I go about making a living as a singer.